A novel report on microwave assisted synthesis of bright carbon dots (C-dots) using gum arabic (GA) and its use as molecular vehicle to ferry ciprofloxacin hydrochloride, a broad spectrum antibiotic, is reported in the present work. Density gradient centrifugation (DGC) was used to separate different types of C-dots. After careful analysis of the fractions obtained after centrifugation, ciprofloxacin was attached to synthesize ciprofloxacin conjugated with C-dots (Cipro@C-dots conjugate). Release of ciprofloxacin was found to be extremely regulated under physiological conditions. Cipro@C-dots were found to be biocompatible on Vero cells as compared to free ciprofloxacin (1.2 mM) even at very high concentrations. Bare C-dots (∼13 mg mL−1) were used for microbial imaging of the simplest eukaryotic model—Saccharomyces cerevisiae (yeast). Bright green fluorescent was obtained when live imaging was performed to view yeast cells under fluorescent microscope suggesting C-dots incorporation inside the cells. Cipro@C-dots conjugate also showed enhanced antimicrobial activity against both model gram positive and gram negative microorganisms. Thus, the Cipro@C-dots conjugate paves not only a way for bioimaging but also an efficient new nanocarrier for controlled drug release with high antimicrobial activity, thereby serving potential tool for theranostics.

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All subjects were male with a mean age of 44.6 (±11.0) years. Majority (97%) used poppy husk daily orally. Curiosity/experimentation (63%) was the most common reason for starting opiate use. The past month rates of tobacco, alcohol, cannabis, and sedative-hypnotics use was 58%, 33%, 3%, and 12%, respectively. Only 4% injected any opioid. Inability to afford opiates (72%) was the most common reason for seeking treatment. Rates of medical, familial, social, psychological, and legal complications were low, while the WHOQOL-BREF scores fell between 40 and 50 across various domains. Conclusions/Importance: Natural opiate users may constitute distinct subgroup of opioid users with fewer/no complications despite long duration of uninterrupted use. These findings would be important in planning management strategies for people dependent on natural opiates.

Background: In spite of advanced operative techniques, availability of higher antibiotics, modern sterilization techniques, higher rate of SSI in government set up after major surgeries is quiet worrisome. Present study is an attempt to assess knowledge and practices of health care professionals to decrease incidence of SSI and to determine their relationship with each other.Methods: This is cross sectional study conducted in one of the tertiary institute in western Maharashtra. Data collection was done by using pre-tested, structured questionnaire. We assessed knowledge and practices followed in wards and operation theatre and compared with standard practices according to WHO infection control protocols. We analyzed data according to Low (<60%), moderate or good (60-80%) and >80% means high knowledge and practices using 3-point Likert scale (never practiced, sometimes practiced, and always practiced). Subgroup analysis will be made by dividing participants in 3 groups mainly consultants (faculty), residents and interns, and staff nurses.Results: Authors found poor knowledge among all three subgroups and in assessment of level of practices, we found that 68.75 % of consultants were following very high level of practices followed by staff nurses (64.51%) and then Interns and residents (49.15%) and while assessing relationship between knowledge and practices in each subgroup by calculating spearman’s Rho coefficient (R), authors found that for interns and residents, P value is 0.025, so association is statistically significant.Conclusions: It can be concluded that health care professionals in the current study have good practices level regarding infection control but knowledge of surgical site infection prevention activities among those was found low. It emphasizes importance of providing training programs for newly joined students, staff nurses and for consultants about infection control protocols at regular intervals.

An in vitro MGC model replicates the inflammatory phases associated with SCI Differential modulation in NF-kB, MAPK, and immunomodulatory pathways over 21 days Change in mitochondrial bioenergetics over seven days ELISA-based HTS platform using CINC-3 as a biomarker is established

Internalized stigma among individuals with substance use disorders is a major barrier for accessing mental health services. This study aimed to assess internalized stigma among individuals with substance use disorders and to assess the relationship of internalized stigma with the quality of life. This cross-sectional study recruited 201 patients with a clinical diagnosis of at least opioid or alcohol use disorder according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual 5 at a public-funded tertiary care center in India. The study participants were interviewed using a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness Scale (ISMIS), and the World Health Organization's Quality of Life (WHOQOL-Bref) questionnaire. Seven participants (3.5% of the sample) had mild stigma according to ISMI scores, 62 (30.8%) had moderate stigma, and 132 (65.7%) had severe stigma. The various quality-of-life domains generally had a negative correlation with the internalized stigma scores. Participants using opioids as the primary substance of use were more likely to have severe internalized stigma. The experience of internalized stigma and dissatisfaction with quality of life is quite high among people suffering with substance use disorders in India. These results emphasize the need for interventions to reduce internal perception of stigma and improve the quality of life of individuals with substance use disorders.

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Glycosylation is ubiquitous throughout the central nervous system and altered following spinal cord injury (SCI). The glial scar that forms following SCI is composed of several chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans, which inhibit axonal regrowth. Cyclosporin-A (CsA), an immunosuppressive therapeutic, has been proposed as a potential treatment after SCI. We investigated CsA treatment in the spinal cord of healthy, contusion injured, and injured CsA-treated rats. Lectin histochemistry using fluorescently labeled lectins, SBA, MAA, SNA-I, and WFA, was performed to identify the terminal carbohydrate residues of glycoconjugates within the spinal cord. SBA staining decreased in gray and white matter following spinal cord injury, whereas staining was increased at the lesion site in CsA-treated animals, indicating an increase in galactose and N -acetylgalactosamine terminal structures. No significant changes in MAA were observed. WFA staining was abundant in gray matter and observed to increase at the lesion site, in agreement with increased expression of chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans. SNA-I-stained blood vessels in all spinal cord regions and dual staining identified a subpopulation of astrocytes in the lesion site, which expressed α-(2,6)-sialic acid. Glycosylation were altered in injured spinal cord treated with CsA, indicating that glycosylation and alteration of particular carbohydrate structures are important factors to consider in the examination of the environment of the spinal cord after injury.